Folding crate.



Wu. 642,245. Patented Jan. 30, I900.

E. F. MONTGILLBUN. FOLDING CRATE.

(Application filed Octv 14, 1899.

[N0 Model.)

Parent FFICEe FOLDING CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,245, dated January 30, 1900. Application filed October 14, 1899. Serial No. 733.633. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE F. MONTGIL- LION, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Folding Crate, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shipping crates or boxes in general, and more particularly to that class known as ffolding crates; and it has for one object to provide a construction of this nature in which the parts thereof may be easily and quickly folded to lie one upon another and to occupy a minimum space.

A further object of the invention is to pro duce a locking-brace which will hold the sides of the crate against outward movement and which will permit the ends to be raised and positioned to hold the sides against inward movement.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following description: I

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which similar numerals of reference designate like and corresponding parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the crate in its set-up position and with the cover raised to its limit. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of Fig. 1 with the cover in position ready for folding the crate. Fig. 3 shows the second stage of the folding operation and illustrates the end pieces folded against the bottom and the sides moved inwardly and about to lie above the end pieces, Fig. 3 being an end elevation. Fig. & is an end elevation showing the boXin its folded position. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing the locking-brace.

Referring now to the drawings, represents the bottom of a crate or box, having sides 11 and 12 hingedly connected therewith, the side 11 being adapted when in its set-up position to stand upon a sill 13, fixed upon the upper surface of the bottom and at one side thereof. lVhen this side 11 is folded inwardly, its inner surface lies in the plane of the upper surface of the sill 13. The side 12 rests normally upon a sill 14, secured upon the upper surface of the bottom 10 and at the opposite side from the sill 13, and to this sill lei, which has a height substantially twice the height of the sill 13, the side 12 is hinged.

\Vhen standing upon their respective sills, the sides 11 and 12 have their upper edges in a common plane which is parallel with the upper surface of the base 10.

Hinged directly to the upper surface of the base 10, at the ends of the latter and between the sides of their sills, are end pieces 15 and 16, which are adapted to lie upon the base 10 when folded inwardly and to receive direct contact of the sides 11 and 12 when the latter are in their vertical positions. The thicknesses of the end pieces are equal to that of the sill 13, so that when the end pieces are folded to lie upon the base their upper surfaces will lie flush with the sill 13. The proportions of the other parts are such that the side 11 may be then folded inwardly upon the end pieces, and the side 12 finally folded to lie upon the side 11.

From the above description and the accompanying illustration it will be seen that the end pieces 15 and 16 prevent inward folding of the sides, and in order to hold the side pieces, as also the end pieces, against outward movement and to prevent the consequent strain upon the hinge connections, there is provided a brace 17 in the form of a link, and which link is of brass or other desired material. One of these links is arranged at each end of the crate and is operatively connected by the medium of screws or pins 19 and 20, having washers at their heads, as shown, and which screws are arranged at each end of each side piece 11 and 12. These screws are passed through the inclosure of the link at their respective ends of the box or crate, the washers which are reinforced by the heads of the screws acting to prevent displacement of the links, while at the same time permitting them to slide with respect to the screws or pins 19 and 20. In the lower side of the link at each end of the crate is formed a downwardly-extending curved portion 22, which bent portion results in the formation of a recess which is adapted to receive the pin or screw 20 when the crate is folded. Connected with one of the side pieces 12 is a lid or cover 23, which is both hingedly and slidably connected to the side piece 12. This connection is secured through the medium of staples 25, secured to the upper edge of the side 12, and through which staples are passed rods 26, the ends of tilted, as shown in Fig. 2, to lie with its lower portion directly against the outer surface of the side 12, when it will be in a position to move with the side 12 when the latter is folded inwardly to lie upon the side 11. I

A latch-plate 26 is secured upon the outer edge of the cover and is adapted to engage over a staple 27 in the side 11 to hold the cover closed when the crate is set up and to.

engage with a second staple 28 when the parts are in their folded positions. I

The operation of folding the crate is as follows:' It being understood that the crate is ready for use, and being set up as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the lid or cover is moved to a vertical position and then allowed to slide downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, at which time the rods 26 pass loosely through the staples 25. The end pieces 11 and 12 are then folded inwardly to lie upon the base 10. The side 11 is then moved inwardly and correspondingly moves the link 17 until the pin or screw 20 enters the recess 29. The side 11 is then further folded until its pin or screw 19 has passed along the loop and beyond pin 20. If the parts be then depressed, they will be found to lie in the position shown in Fig. 4, atwhich time the latch 26 may be caused to engage with the staple 28, and thus to hold the parts in this folded position. In this folded position the parts will lie as illustrated in Fig. 4, and when it is desired to set up the crate the side piece 12, with the attached cover, is lifted outwardly to the limit of its movement. The side 11 is then similarly moved until the pins 19 and 20 lie at opposite ends of the link, after which the end pieces may be raised and will prevent inward movement of the sides. If the crate be left for exhibition purposes, the cover will remain either in the position shown in Fig. 2 or Fig. 1, as may be desired, and when ready for shipment or when it is desired to close it the cover is first moved to the position shownfin Fig. 1 and is then swung forwardly upon its hinges to lie upon the upper edges of the side and end pieces. In order .to permit the easy movement of the cover mechanism, the outer surface of the side 12 is grooved for the reception of the rods 26, these grooves being extended inwardly over the upper edges of the side pieces 29, as shown in Fig. 1.

While the accompanying drawings show a crate formed of slats, it will of course be understood that the invention is equally as well applicable to a crate having any other specific structure and embodying any suitable proportions and material and that the crate may be employed for whatever purposes may be deemed desirable.

What is claimed is I 1. A folding receptacle comprising a base portion, members hinged to the base, pins carried by the hinged members, and links slidably mounted upon the pins and adapted to hold the hinged members against outward displacement, said links being also adapted to permit passing of the pins within the inclosure of the links.

2. A folding receptacle comprising a base having sides hingedly connected therewith and adapted to lie above and parallel with the base, end pieces hinged to the base and adapted to lie thereagainst and to stand erect between the side pieces and hold them against inward movement, headed pins upon the side pieces, and links in slidable engagement with said pins, each of said links having a recess in one side adapted to receive a pin and permit the opposite pin to pass therebeyond.

3. In a folding receptacle, the combination with a base having side pieces hinged thereto and adapted to lie parallel with and above the base, end pieces hinged to the base between the side pieces and adapted to lie upon the base, and to stand erect between the-side pieces to prevent their inward displacement, headed pins upon the outer ends of the side pieces, a link at each end of the receptacle in slidable engagement with the pins and adapted to hold the sides and end pieces against outward displacement, and each of the links having a recess adapted to receive a pin and permit the passage of the cooperating pin therebeyond, eyes carried by one of the side pieces, grooves leading to said eyes, and a cover having transverse rods connected therewith and slidably engaging the eyes and adapted for slidable and pivotal movement with respect thereto and to lie in the said slots at times.

4. A folding receptacle comprising a base, sides hingedly connected with the base, means for holding the sides against inward movement, headed pins carried by the sides, and links slidably mounted upon the pins and adapted to hold the ends against outward displacement, said links having broadened portions to permit passing of the pins within the inclosure of the links. V

5. A folding receptacle comprising a base,

sides hingedly connected with the base, means for holding the sides against inward move-- ment, headed pins carried by the sides, and links slidably mounted upon the pins and adapted to hold the ends against outward displacement, said links being adapted to permit passing of the pins within the inclosure of the links.

In. testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EUGENE F. MONTGILLION.

Witnesses:

HOWARD W. J ONES, ARTHUR W. LYMAN. 

